Are you charitably inclined?
Under existing Massachusetts inheritance laws, your property passes to those individuals related to you by blood unless a Last Will and Testament provides otherwise. To put it another way, without a Last Will and Testament in place, your property will ultimately pass to your blood relatives (provided you have such living relatives). In the situation where you are estranged or not particularly fond of your family, the existing Massachusetts inheritance laws would not be favorable for you. However, your Last Will and Testament could provide instructions to distribute your assets to your friends, more distant relatives, or favorite charities.